To our valued partners in the end of hunger,
My year has started off on a high, literally and figuratively!
Recently I spent a week in the foothills of the Himalayas in India meeting elected women. I was there alongside 16 women taking part in our 11th Business Chicks immersion program, and the Business Chicks CEO Olivia Ruello. The simple yet clear vision of one woman I met, Hansa from a small village called Khanachuli, really resonated with me: “For women to live with dignity and self-respect, and to value themselves so they are no longer pushed around by men.”
Hansa was trained over her 5 year term by The Hunger Project, and has gone on to: stop illegal sales of alcohol; install CCTV cameras for safety in her town square; enable 150 women to find employment; set up a dairy that 50 families sell their milk to; build roads and paths; activate women to plant trees; protect natural springs and build water harvesting systems; and more! Hearing Hansa’s incredible achievements in service of her community gave me cause to celebrate what’s possible for people when given the right opportunity.
Another high that I’m delighted to share with you is that in 2018, due to your generosity, we raised over $5.2 million in Australia for the end of hunger and over $4.2 million in commitments for future years. Globally, the 2018 funding has had a powerful impact – enabling us globally to reach over 15.9 million people living in Hunger Project communities. With each new person we reach – thanks to your partnership – we are moving closer to achieving our vision of ending hunger in our lifetime.
In this Newsletter we have given you a snapshot of this impact in our stories – including the following:
- How 3 Epicentre communities in Africa– in partnership with Australian investors – reached the historic milestone of Self-Reliance
- How a sense of urgency moved Trista Brohier, Chair of our Queensland Board, into taking life-changing action while in Malawi
- How the power of our Vision, Commitment, Action workshops enabled Esme to create and realise her vision of owning a safe and secure home for her family!
Thanks to all of you for your vision and persistence in creating a better world for everyone. I hope that this International Women’s Day (8 March) you can celebrate with us, at one of the many International Women’s Day events featuring speakers from The Hunger Project, or online.
Yours in ending hunger,
Melanie Noden
